Question - What is meant by Tally?
Answer -
- The king used to impose this tax on the farmers
- The clergy and the aristocracy were exempt from this tax; they did not have to pay this tax.
Question – Explain the reasons for the expansion of cities in Europe?
Answer -
- This is why cities expanded in Europe
- and a fourth class became townspeople
Question - Who was called Fryer?
Answer -
- This group of friars was called
- The group that decided not to stay in the monastery
- These monks used to travel from one place to another and preach to the people
- These monks lived their lives on donations
Question - What is meant by labour surplus?
Answer -
- The product of the labour of peasant families on the lord's estates is called labour surplus
- Peasant families had to work on the lord's estates for three or more days a week
Question – When and where were the two most famous monasteries built?
Answer -
1. In Italy in 529 – Saint Benedict
2. In Burgundy in 910 - Cluny
Question – What was the condition of farmers in Europe under feudalism?
Answer -
- Feudalism emerged in many parts of Europe in the latter half of the eleventh century.
- 'Feudalism' is derived from the German word 'Feud' which means – a piece of land.
- From an economic point of view, feudalism refers to a type of agricultural product which was based on the relationship between the feudal lord and the farmers; the farmers used to work on the lord's (feudal) fields along with their own fields.
- The farmers used to serve the lord and in return the lord used to provide them military protection. The lord also had judicial rights over the farmers.
- This system developed in central France and later in England and southern Italy as well
Question - Why did the knight class emerge? Give a brief description of the relationship between lords and knights.
Answer -
Knight class
During the ninth century, Europe was increasingly fighting wars that were not sufficient for the fighting men, so the need for skilled mounted cavalry led to the creation of a new class of skilled mounted cavalry called knights.
Relationship between Knights and Lords
- In Europe, the relationship between knights and lords was similar to that between lords and kings
- The lord would give the knight a tract of land called a fief, which covered an area of 1,000 to 2,000 acres or more.
- The knight would give the lord a certain sum of money in exchange for land and also give an assurance that he would support him in war if needed.
- The knight could also offer his services to other lords. But his first loyalty was to his lord.
Question: What kind of life did Christian monks live in the monasteries of medieval Europe?
Answer -
- In medieval Europe, some religious people in Christianity who were not clergy preferred to live a solitary life
- The religious communities in which they lived were called monasteries or abbeys. There were two important monasteries in medieval Europe
- Saint Benedict Monastery, established in Italy in 529 AD
- Monastery of Cluny, founded in Burgundy in 910 AD.
- Monks spent their entire lives living in monasteries, praying, studying, and doing physical labor like agriculture
- The monks had to follow certain rules
- The life of a monk could be adopted by both men and women, male monks were called 'monks' and female monks were called 'nuns'.
- Monks and nuns were not allowed to marry.
- No monk had the right to own personal property
Question - By the beginning of the fourteenth century, the economic expansion of Europe slowed down. Explain the reasons why this happened.
Answer -
- The economic crisis of the 14th century led to social discontent among the peasants in Europe.
- By the end of the thirteenth century, the hot summers in northern Europe were replaced by cool summers, which shortened the growing season and caused storms and sea floods to destroy farm establishments.
- The economic depression caused a great reduction in the income of the lords of Europe and a decrease in the government's income from taxes
- Decreasing of available resources due to population growth.
- Earlier three-field crop rotation of intensive tillage weakened the soil and led to a decline in yields
- Decrease in livestock population due to lack of pastures.
- A terrible famine and epidemic spread in Europe in 1315-1317; many animals died in 1320 AD.
- Rats came with the ships and spread epidemics like the bubonic plague which affected millions of people.
- The number of workers decreased, which led to an increase in wage rates by up to 250 percent.
- Rising wage rates and falling prices of agricultural produce reduced the income of the elite.
- Farmers, especially the educated and prosperous farmers, opposed it.
Question – How did the cathedral cities in France come into existence?
Answer -
- The construction of large churches called cathedrals began in France in the 12th century.
- Donations were given by rich people for their construction.
- Common people contributed to their construction by their labour and other things.
- Cathedrals were very large and grand. They were made of stone.
- Many types of people settled around the cathedral, and markets were established to meet their needs.
- They were constructed in such a way that the voice of the priest, the songs of the monks and the prayer bells of the people could be heard from far away.
- Stained glass was used for the windows of the cathedral.
- This allowed enough sunlight to enter during the day. At night, when candles were lit in the cathedral, the paintings depicting Christ's life on the window panes could be seen clearly.
Question – Discuss the various technological changes taking place in Europe in the eleventh century.
Answer -
- In medieval Europe, in the eleventh century, farmers began to use iron-tipped ploughs instead of wooden ploughs, which increased the yield
- Iron horseshoes began to be put in the horses' hooves, so that their hooves could remain safe.
- There was also improvement in the methods of harnessing animals to the plough. The yoke was now tied on the shoulders instead of the neck. This gave more strength to the animals.
- Water and wind powered factories were set up to grind grain and make wine from grapes.
- There was also a change in the way land was used. The two-field system was replaced by a three-field system. This allowed farmers to use their fields for two out of three years.
- They could sow wheat or rye in one field in autumn. In another field, peas, beans and lentils or barley and millet could be sown in spring. The third field was kept fallow i.e. empty.
- Every year they could use the three fields alternately, resulting in increased agricultural production.
